Investigation number
200402538
Occurrence date
Location
463 km NW Perth, Aero.
State
Western Australia
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence category
Air/pressurisation
Occurrence class
Incident
Highest injury level
None

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau did not conduct an on-scene investigation of this occurrence. The report presented below was derived from information supplied to the Bureau.

While en route from the Jundee mine site to Perth, cruising at FL220, the crew of the Fairchild Industries Inc Metro 23, registration VH-WBA, saw the cabin altitude gauge indication climbing at a rate of about 8,000 ft/minute. The crew, suspecting a pressurisation failure, donned oxygen masks and directed the passengers to do the same. They contacted Melbourne Centre air traffic control and received a clearance to immediately descend to 14,000 ft. Once level at the amended cruise altitude, the use of passenger oxygen masks was discontinued and the flight proceeded to Perth.

Company maintenance investigation could not detect the reason for the pressurisation fault. Extensive trouble shooting was carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's maintenance manual, followed by ground runs and a test flight. The aircraft and its systems performed normally.

The aircraft was placed on a maintenance watch and returned to service where it has since operated without incident.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Fairchild Industries Inc
Model
SA227
Registration
VH-WBA
Serial number
DC-883B
Operation type
Charter
Sector
Turboprop
Departure point
Jundee, WA
Departure time
1710 hours WST
Destination
Perth, WA
Damage
Nil